Report: Georgia to suspend two key starters

Georgia All-American safety Bacarri Rambo is reportedly going to be suspended by the school for the first four games of the 2012 season.

According to the several reports including the Macon Telegraph, the four games suspension stems from a second violation of the school’s athletic department’s drug policy. Rambo is planning on appealing the suspension.

Meanwhile, linebacker Alec Ogletree is also reportedly facing suspension as well. According to Dawgpost.com, a Scout.com site which first reported the suspensions, Ogletree is facing a two-game suspension following a violation of athletic department policy.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity texted the Telegraph with a “no comment at this time.”

The Bulldogs open the season against Buffalo on Sept. 1 before traveling to Missouri, followed by home games against FAU and Vanderbilt.

Rambo led the SEC in interceptions last season with seven and recorded 55 tackles for a Georgia defense that was ranked third in the conference in total defense. Ogletree recorded 52 tackles including 7.5 tackles for a loss as well as adding three sacks. He also forced three fumbles as well.

This isn’t the duo’s first suspension with the program. Rambo missed the first game of the 2011 season for violation of team rules while Ogletree was suspended the first game of the 2010 after misdemeanor arrest for stealing a bike helmet.

The program has already dealt with several other off-field issues including the suspension of cornerback Sanders Cummings for the first two games of the season following his arrest on misdemeanor domestic violence. Cornerback Braden Smith was also arrested for marijuana possession earlier this month but the school has yet to announce any punishment.

This isn’t the sort of situation that head coach Mark Richt was hoping to be dealing with after the team’s bounce-back 2011 season which saw the Bulldogs win 10 games and capture the SEC East divisional crown.

Georgia is expected to be a top 15 team going into the 2012-13 season. I have the Bulldogs ranked sixth in my preseason poll thanks in part to solid performers on both offense and defense.